FOX ILLINOIS
— Lanphier Students Get Government Lesson From Sen. Durbin – JORDAN ABUDAYYEH (DIERSEN: What do you know about the federal government? I audited federal agencies for GAO for almost 18 years, that last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 levels (currently $92,632-$120,427). I worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels (currently $77,899-$88,286). I worked for the Post Office for almost 3 years while I attended college. I served on the Executive Committee of the Chicago Chapter of the Association of Government Accountants for 12 years.)http://foxillinois.com/news/local/lanphier-students-get-government-lesson-from-sen-durbin-10-22-2016— Illinois Program Educates Youth Of The Dangers Of Drinking And Driving (DIERSEN: What about the dangers of smoking pot, of gambling, of out-of-wedlock sex, of becoming dependent on government, of not getting an education, of not getting a job, of not saving for retirement, of etc.)http://foxillinois.com/news/local/illinois-program-educates-youth-of-the-dangers-of-drinking-and-driving

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— State workers key in Jimenez, DelGiorno 99th House race – Doug Finke (DIERSEN: In your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, and in your county, what percent of the voters are past or present government employees? I was a federal employee for almost 30 years and I have been a federal retiree for 19 years.)http://www.sj-r.com/news/20161021/election-preview-state-workers-key-in-jimenez-delgiorno-99th-house-race
(FROM THE ARTICLE: State workers make up a significant part of the 99th House District that covers a large part of Springfield and western and southern Sangamon County. It’s no coincidence, then, that a state worker issue is playing a significant role in the race between incumbent Rep. Sara Wojcicki Jimenez, R-Leland Grove, and Democratic challenger Tony DelGiorno of Springfield.)
— 1,100 non-union state workers getting $3,016 bonuses – Doug Finke (DIERSEN: In 1989, the Democrats who ran GAO started their pay-for-performance system a) to retain and to promote their employees who were Democrat, minority, female, and/or younger and b) to get rid of their employees who were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran. Of course, obviously, needless-to-say, without question, under that system, my Democrat GAO superiors always ranked me in the lower half of my coworkers and never gave me any bonuses.)http://www.sj-r.com/news/20161021/1100-non-union-state-workers-getting-3016-bonuses
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration is awarding one-time bonuses worth a total of between $3 million and $4 million to non-union workers whose bosses say are doing exceptional work. About 1,100 merit-compensation employees are in line to each receive a $3,016 bonus under the plan. “In an effort to recognize the hard work and dedication that non-bargaining unit employees demonstrate on a daily basis, coupled with the lack of systematic increases over the past several years, the state has authorized bonus payments for eligible non-bargaining unit employees,” Michael Hoffman, acting director of the Department of Central Management Services said in a memo to agency directors and others. “These bonuses do not make up for this unfair lack of wage increases for non-bargaining unit employees during previous administrations,” he said. “However, they do represent a commitment that, going forward, all employees will be treated equally, regardless of bargaining unit status.” Hoffman said the last across-the-board salary increase for non-bargaining unit employees was in 2005. The last merit pay program for them was in 2009. The memo says the bonuses are available to non-bargaining unit employees whose base salary as of July 1 was less than $100,000. Those earning more were not eligible. A number of other merit-comp employees were also excluded. Members of Rauner’s executive office were not eligible, nor were employees subject to Senate confirmation, those who left state employment before Sept. 16 and those who worked less than three months during the fiscal year that ended June 30. Rauner’s office said that left a potential pool of about 2,000 employees eligible for the bonus. In order to qualify, an employee had to receive an “exceptional” rating on his or her evaluation. Rauner’s office said about 1,100 employees got that rating. The size of the bonus was determined by adding all of the salaries of all non-bargaining unit employees making less than $100,000 a year, computing 2 percent of that and then dividing that amount by the number who actually qualified to receive it. That came to $3,016 for each of the workers who qualified. The administration has argued that a bonus system is cheaper than raises for the state in the long run because the payments are one-time and not built into a person’s base salary, and because they are not pensionable. The bonuses already have been issued to many, but not all, of the workers who qualify for them. The administration said it depends on how quickly individual agencies process them. Although the state is delaying payments to many organizations and vendors because of the traditional fall slowdown in tax collections, the bonus payments are being made. Rich Carter, spokesman for Comptroller Leslie Munger, said the bonus payments can’t be differentiated from regular payroll when agencies submit payroll information to the office for payment. “There’s nothing that says bonus on it,” he said. “They send us the payroll and we process the checks. As you know, we are required by court order right now to pay payroll on schedule.” In his memo, Hoffman said the bonus system is similar to one implemented in contract agreements the state has reached with 18 bargaining units representing state employees. Most of those workers belong to one of several Teamsters locals or trade unions. In those agreements, 2 percent of payroll was set aside to award performance bonuses. The administration and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents about 38,000 state workers, still have not agreed on a new contract. The administration wants the union to accept a four-year wage freeze while also imposing a performance bonus plan. Bargaining stopped in January when state negotiators said they believed the talks were at an impasse. The Illinois Labor Relations Board is expected to rule on the issue next month. An administrative law judge who held hearings on the issue said she believed the two sides had reached impasse on some issues, but should continue bargaining over wages and benefits. ASFCME had no comment Friday on the administrations bonus payments to non-union workers.)

WORLD NET DAILY
— OCTOBER 5, 2016 FLASHBACK: 5 WASHINGTON POST WRITERS LIKEN TRUMP TO HITLER ‘Hitlerian thinking,’ ‘uncannily reminiscent,’ ‘Nazi sympathizers,’ ‘megalomaniacal demagogue,’ ‘sociopathic liar’ – DAVID KUPELIAN (DIERSEN: The more of the following demographics that you have: German national origin, Protestant, conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owner, and if your ancestors have been in America for a long time, the more that those who are anti-German national origin, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors WILL PAINT YOU AS BEING HITLER.)http://www.wnd.com/2016/10/5-washington-post-writers-liken-trump-to-hitler/

NATIONAL REVIEW
— How populism displaced conservatism in the Republican party – MATTHEW CONTINETTI (DIERSEN: I should write a book about past and present Democrat plants, Libertarian plants, Green plants, and RINOs in the Milton Township Republican Central Committee, the DuPage County Republican Central Committee, the Illinois Republican Party, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee, Illinois Center Right Coalition, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter, etc. who have worked the hardest to get rid of conservatives and to destroy the Republican Party.)http://www.nationalreview.com/article/441325/donald-trump-republican-party-2016-old-challenges-populism

HUFFINGTON POST
— Atlanta’s GOP Women Are Poised To Help Hillary Clinton Run Up The Score Donald Trump’s history with women could give Georgia’s electoral votes to a Democrat for the first time since Bill Clinton won the White House. – S.V. Dale (DIERSEN: Of course, obviously, needless-to-say, without question, if someone does anything to help elect or reelect a Democrat, they should be barred from seeking or holding any kind of government or political office as a Republican.)http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hillary-clinton-georgia-women_us_580aada3e4b02444efa39cbe

NBC NEWS
— Suburbs House More Poor Americans Than ‘Inner-Cities’ – SAFIA SAMEE ALI (DIERSEBN: Democrats run America. Democrats run Illinois. Democrats run Cook County. Democrats run Chicago. Ever-increasingly, the aforesaid Democrats shout at those who have less money than others a) that Republicans have caused all the problems that the poor have had, b) that Republicans are causing all the problems that the poor have, and c) that Republican will cause all the problems that the poor will have in the future. Ever-increasingly, Democrats paint Republicans in America like Hitler painted the Jews in Germany.)http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/suburbs-house-more-poor-americans-inner-cities-n665386

NEW YORK TIMES
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: As the Obama Era Wanes, A Hometown Grows Wistful – THOMAS FULLER (DIERSEN: What is your hometown? My hometown is Crete. I should write a book about those in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, and in DuPage County who viciously demonize, who viciously denigrate, and who viciously condemn Crete.)http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/22/us/obama-presidency-hawaii.html— Donald Trump’s Warning on Election Result Sounds Familiar to Some Immigrants – YAMICHE ALCINDOR (DIERSEN: Democrats run America. Democrats are moral relativists who believe that their end justifies their means. Democrats are disciples of Saul Alinsky.)http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/22/us/politics/donald-trump-immigrants.html— How Taking a Gap Year Can Shape Your Life Looking back, adults who took time off before or during college say they have no regrets. RON LIEBER (DIERSEN: Non-veteran White males who are seeking a job with the federal government should be advised that with only rare exceptions, a) the longer that you are a federal employee, the less likely that private sector employers will hire you, b) your career will be wasted and you will be gotten rid of if you do not make GS-13 ($92,632) by age 25, GS-14 ($109,463) by age 30, GS-15 ($128,759) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service ($160,300) by age 40, c) you will be expected to help your superiors and supervisors get rid of their employees who are Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran, and d) virtually everyone despises if not hates federal employees, former federal employees, and federal retirees.)http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/22/your-money/reflections-on-a-gap-year-decades-after-taking-one.html

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trump Peggy Noonan says that Trump in insane.http://www.wsj.com/articles/imagine-a-sane-donald-trump-1477004871— The Wall Street Journal Offers Buyouts to News Employees Move is meant to ‘limit the number of involuntary layoffs’ in the newsroom, editor in chief says – ANNE STEELE (DIERSEN: Have you ever been “offered” a buyout? In 1993, when I was 45 years old, to get rid of GAO employees who were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran, my Democrat GAO superiors “offered” $25,000 buyouts to all GAO employees like me who had 25 or more years of federal service if they retired. I had worked for IRS for almost 9 years and for the Post Office for almost 3 years before I transferred from IRS to GAO in 1980. Of course, obviously, needless-to-say, without question, once you have been “offered” a buyout and/or early retirement, your career is over.)http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-wall-street-journal-offers-buyouts-to-news-employees-1477075529

ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL
— Time for Supreme Court’s Ginsburg to retire – Diane Dimond (DIERSEN: How old are you? In 1993, when I was 45 years old, to get rid of GAO employees who were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran, my Democrat GAO superiors “offered” $25,000 buyouts to all GAO employees like me who had 25 or more years of federal service if they retired. I had worked for IRS for almost 9 years and for the Post Office for almost 3 years before I transferred from IRS to GAO in 1980. Of course, obviously, needless-to-say, without question, once you have been “offered” a buyout and/or early retirement, your career is over.)https://www.abqjournal.com/872911/time-for-supreme-courts-ginsburg-to-retire.html

WOWT
— Public losing interest in public service – NBC (DIERSEN: Many millions have not and will not seek a job with the federal government a) because the pay and benefits are terrible, b) because the advancement opportunities are terrible, c) because they lack required education, work experience, professional certifications, and/or professional licenses, d) because they cannot pass an employment examination, e) because they cannot pass a background investigation, f) because they cannot pass a physical examination, g) because they cannot take the demonization, denigration, and condemnation that comes with being a federal employee or federal retiree, and/or h) because they are Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran and they know that the federal government discriminates against its employees who are Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)http://www.wowt.com/content/news/Public-losing-interest-in-public-service-397972461.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Public service employment include those who serve in the military and government jobs, but what if the newest class of job candidates doesn’t want anything to do with it? “Bring back this sense of civic idealism that you can make a difference,” says Steven Olikara. Millennials are shying away from public service. At least that appears to be the trend according to Olikara, a millennial and founding president of the Millennial Action Project. The organization’s goal is to bring American politics into a more inclusive and bipartisan age by using the talents of younger generations. “There’s this larger narrative that we have to combat which is that you can’t make a difference in public service,” says Olikara. “The levels of distrust continue to be high levels. Something like 80 percent of millennials don’t trust the government to do the right thing.” Olikara says recruitment and compensation are two huge issues when it comes to incentivizing young people. “There is a systemic problem, we need cultural change and I think the biggest thing I hear all the time is we need to be rewarding talent and rewarding results.” Lawmakers who are not millennials are well aware of this issue, so Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford and North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp held a hearing to examine just that. “We think some of the best missions in the country are in public service, we just need to figure out how we’re going to communicate that to millennials,” says Sen. Heitkamp. She says 31 percent of the federal government is eligible for retirement in 2019. She and Lankford agree that a new wave has to come in and soon. Lankford says with long hiring processes, nothing is fast these days. “Now, almost 100 days to be able to hire one federal employee. That’s a major problem. Most people aren’t going to sit around and wait if they apply for a job even if they want to be able to serve their fellow citizen.” “Hopefully, we can spark some larger public debate around how we can encourage and incentivize,” says Olikara. Among the opportunities young people have is a White House internship program. If you’d like to learn more about the opportunities, visit whitehouse.gov/participate/internships.)

Author: David Diersen

The opinions that I express in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails are based on experience that I have gained doing many things since 1948. I base my opinions on what I learned a) working for the federal government for almost 30 years -- Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997, serving on the Executive Committee of the Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter 1983-1996, and being a union member while I worked for the Post Office and IRS; b) earning an MBA from Loyola in 1976, a masters degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and a masters degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997; c) passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981; c) serving as a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999, the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000, the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois Chairman 2005-2012, a member of the 2008 Illinois Republican Party (IRP) Platform and Resolutions Committee, a Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member 2003-2011, the Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster 2008-2010 and 2000-2004, an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member 2003-2007, and an American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member 2001-2004; d) attending the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 IRP State Conventions as a delegate; e) being the subject of a nasty 4-page article in the February 1978 issue of Money Magazine; f) pursing litigation including Diersen v. GAO and Diersen v. Chicago Car Exchange; g) being married since 1978; h) living in Crete 1948-1972, in University Park 1972-1976, in Chicago 1976-1978, and in DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton since 1978; and i) being baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran.
View all posts by David Diersen